Focus on the big picture, this too shall pass.

Breaking news flashed today morning:

Total infected count in India as of this morning is 529577, 16103 deaths, and 310146 fully recovered. 43000+ new cases in US and 35000+ in Brazil yesterday. 20131 new cases in India yesterday.

Suddenly, the optimist and the pessimist in me started a struggle and an emotional rollercoaster followed. In the last three months of lockdown, most of us have gone through unhealthy anticipatory grief.

We all feel that the world has changed around us and it may seem that it's temporary but definitely does not feel like it. My last week air travel with face shield, mask, bodysuits, multiple health checks, availability of travel pass, the entire process, and the experience made me question my decision – was that worth it? Not denying the risk of getting infected. I love traveling but would I do it again in the near future – NO. The loss of social connect with families and friends, losing our freedom, the financial fears, home disruption and it all has broken our sense of safety.

In such situations, how can we find a balance in our thoughts, find acceptance for our emotions and feelings and live in present, one day at a time.

This pandemic has allowed us to test our relationships, bonds, and given us an opportunity to step back and see with clear lens – what should be higher on the priority list for all of us. For me, its health first followed by family and work.

When you are on an airplane, the flight attendant instructs you to “put your oxygen mask on first,” before helping others. This is to ensure your survival because if you run out of oxygen yourself, you can't help anyone else. COVID has highlighted how important self-care is. When looking at health, it’s just not physical – mental health is as important. Here is how I changed over the last three months of lockdown

• I made great plans for the workout but did not do anything for the first 4 days. Workout alone was boring for me. I got a little creative and started a YouTube channel where I could share my workout video with friends. I found myself more connected with cheerleading friends and family even when I was in isolation.
• Formed a WhatsApp group with a 21-day workout challenge where 21 days cycle keeps repeating. We agreed on a certain set of daily activities that each one has to complete and report back. It helped me look forward to workouts every morning.
• I started meditation for just 15 minutes right after shower every morning. I would go with stages from a lot in my brain to going completely blank, just being in the moment.
• I started listening to spiritual audiobooks. I really learned a lot from “Inner Engineering – A Yogi’s Guide to Joy” by Sadguru. I would highly recommend it.
• Made proper nutrition a priority. I started eating right, drinking hot lemon water, a lot of fruits, and juices which I did not do much before the pandemic. The result, I lost 5 KG and feel stronger.

When your immune system is in top condition and you feel mentally and physically fit – you are ready to help others.

COVID has definitely reminded all of us of the importance of family. Lockdown allowed me to spend three months with my parents in our hometown where we created lasting memories for our children. In normal circumstances, I would have never gotten this chance given the busy professional life each one of us has. It was a blessing in disguise.

• Beyond watching movies together, indulging in art and playing cards, I had the opportunity to spend 1:1 time with my Mom and Dad and learning more about their life perspectives which I can appreciate more that I am now a father of three little boys.
• It’s just not you, every member is going through a change and needs support in such situations. Be it from kids having online school sessions or spouse working from home and all the daily chores can easily get very demanding. We all changed very fast, got out of our comfort zone to help each other.
• Most important was not to dismiss the feelings and fear about the uncertainty of the future and all the worst scenarios that the brain could think of. It was more important as many of our friends and their families were tested COVID positive. Just the thought of losing someone even distant had to be reconciled. As a family, we all got closer and stronger.

Work definitely took a toll, though there were positive gains on health and family front. I took a leap from the corporate world after working for 20 years and chose to become an entrepreneur last year. COVID wiped out most of our consulting pipeline and many of the projects were put on hold. It’s tough for a young organization and I can see the pain beyond the start-up ecosystem. Our first two months just went away in the state of shock, overcoming the emotional toll of losing a lot of business and not able to determine if it was the right time to start again.

Start we did, and a good one. We went back to the drawing board understanding the current situation and designed offerings accordingly. After two months of good effort, we are definitely standing on our feet again.

• Remember, the entire ecosystem is impacted. It's just not you alone. It may take time and things will come back to normal soon.
• Look for opportunities to make your operations efficient and productive. Identify the processes that are redundant and eliminate bureaucracy from your organization. Don’t let a crisis go to waste
• The digital revolution just got accelerated with COVID-19. Participate and transform, don’t be left behind.
• Don’t shy away from making adjustments to cost structure. With all stakeholders, be transparent, and show empathy. They will appreciate the genuineness and it will go a long way.

Most important, don’t lose faith. Keep your focus on the big picture and what is really important in life. Be creative and keep making small incremental gains as time may get tougher going forward.